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New Nano Desalinization Method

lbmouse writes "The Technology Review is reporting that researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have announced a way to use carbon nano-tube technology to reduce the cost of desalination of ocean water by 75 percent over current methods of reverse osmosis. From the article: 'The technology could potentially provide a solution to water shortages both in the United States, where populations are expected to soar in areas with few freshwater sources, and worldwide, where a lack of clean water is a major cause of disease.' The technology may also lead to new ways of eliminating carbon dioxide emitted from power plants."

14 of 216 comments (clear)

  1. Perfect by Who235 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now, as sea levels rise, we can just drink it up.

    Woo-Hoo!

    1. Re:Perfect by dubmun · · Score: 3, Funny

      Nah, we'll just piss it back out and then all the coastal cities and towns will be swimming in urine. I guess this is already the case in New Orleans...

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      (end of post)
    2. Re:Perfect by InsaneLampshade · · Score: 3, Funny

      *insert comment comparing American beer to water here*

    3. Re:Perfect by evilviper · · Score: 2, Funny
      Now, as sea levels rise, we can just drink it up.

      Then pee into your freezer, and the cycle is complete!
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      Slashdot gets worse every day... Pipedot: News for nerds, without the corporate slant
  2. Wow, 75% cheaper by ENOENT · · Score: 2, Funny

    Just think of the patent licensing fees they can charge!

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    That's "Mr. Soulless Automaton" to you, Bub.
  3. If it involved boiling the water... by i+kan+reed · · Score: 5, Funny

    We'd probably call it vaporware

  4. Mandatory "Top Secret" reference by CrystalFalcon · · Score: 5, Funny

    - Do you realize what this would mean to the starving nations of the planet?

    - WOW! They'd have enough salt to last forever!

  5. Finally! by bombadier_beetle · · Score: 2, Funny

    I was wondering how I was going to get all that salt out of my iPod.

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    If you mod me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.
    1. Re:Finally! by nickheart · · Score: 2, Funny

      mod up parent... he posted my joke first!

    2. Re:Finally! by Jokerz17 · · Score: 2, Funny

      It wasn't a joke to me, I really opened this story to find that out.

  6. nano by uberjoe · · Score: 2, Funny

    When I first read the headline I was wondering how iPods got salty in the first place.

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    The days of the digital watch are numbered.

  7. Re:The Singularity really is near... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Everybody trying to hold their breath for ten years would be an excellent way for us to prove evolution's "natural selection" theory..

  8. Re:Materials science must be the top-level science by numbsafari · · Score: 3, Funny

    They weigh about as much as the tangent bike frames.

  9. Do Not Eat iPod Nano by iamacat · · Score: 2, Funny

    Then you won't have to desalinize it